Mekong Bike & Boat Adventure

Price

Duration

Level

Tour Code

Cycling Mekong River Cruise - Saigon to Siem Reap

Mekong River Cruise from the vibrant southern capital of Saigon, Vietnam, to the ancient kingdom of Angkor, Cambodia, the slow way, by bike and boat on a tour specially made to accommodate both cyclists and non-riding partners. Spend your mornings exploring your surroundings by bike or by foot, then in the afternoons, cruise the iconic Mekong River in comfort and style.

Quality Bikes
Cannondale CX3 or E-bike

Your Guide
Friendly Cambodian and Vietnamese teams

Group Size
8 to 20

AccommodationTom Tiou Luxury Riverboat & Hotels

ActivitiesRide/walk

Minimum Age
16

Overview

A truly enjoyable way to journey between Saigon and Siem Reap is on river cruise combining both bike and boat. Start out with a walking tour of the lively city of Saigon before boarding the ship, then pedal along the Vietnamese end of the Mekong Delta, through friendly villages and colonial towns. At the end of each day of riding, board the ship, without the need to unpack, and relax on deck with a cold drink as the world of the Mekong goes by.

Once you’ve cruised into Cambodia, enjoy the change of scenery with a day of cycling around Phnom Penh’s Silk Island. Explore Cambodia’s capital city and learn about its history before flying to Siem Reap: the home of Angkor Wat. One of the highlights of this journey will be watching the colors of the day illuminate the sky over the spires of this famous temple and cycling around the grounds of the historical national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Biking or hiking through the backroads and paths of Southeast Asia each morning, you will have the opportunity to meet local people, learn about their lives and traditions, and see first hand the agricultural miracle that is the Mekong Delta, while enjoying delicious local cuisine, and staying in comfort throughout the journey.

We specifically welcome non-cycling partners or friends on this trip and will have special activities planned for them each morning while the riders are cycling.

170 - 250 Km riding. The riding is entirely flat. You’ll cycle on a great variety of surfaces, ranging from concrete to hard-packed dirt and even a few forest trails around Angkor. Traffic will almost always be a rarity, allowing you to engage with the locals as you go, stopping for a chat or a photo opp as you wish.

Pedal assist E-bikes are an available option on this tour for $330.

Deposit payment: $800 USD

Standard Cabin: $4,990 USD
Single room: $1,500 USD

Upper Cabin: $5,690 USD
Single room: $2,000 USD

Highlights

Take a walking food tour of the lively city of Saigon and sample local favorites as well as coffee, beer and chocolate.

Pedal the Silk Islands near Phnom Penh and visit traditional village industries.

Wander your way through Phnom Penh with your expert guide in tow to learn more about Cambodian history.

Gaze at the magnificent sunrise over the five spires of Angkor Wat before pedaling through the park.

Day to Day

Expand All

Day 1Saigon - All Aboard!

Meal: LD

Welcome to Saigon! After picking up from your hotel, get acquainted with your fellow adventurers on a walking food tour of this culinary hotspot city. Along the way, we’ll have the opportunity to taste local specialties such as Vietnamese coffee, chocolate, and beer. In the early afternoon, it’s all aboard our ship for the maiden voyage to the top of the canal. We’ll enjoy our first dinner together on board.

Day 2Village & Forest Ride, Ship to My Tho

Riding: 25km cycling

Meal: BLD

This morning let’s hop on our bikes for our first ride around the top of the canal. The Mekong Delta is the longest river in Southeast Asia and runs through many of its countries, including Vietnam and Cambodia. We’ll have our first look at this lush delta with an explorative pedal through the riverside villages and bamboo forests. Once we’ve cycled up an appetite, we’ll board the barge again for lunch to join the non-cyclists and then sail up the river to My Tho.

Day 3Explore the Mekong to Cai Be

Riding: 35-65km cycling

Meal: BLD

Today you’ll have the option to choose between a morning ride and afternoon on the ship, or morning on the ship and afternoon ride… unless you want to try both! Our morning ride takes us through the busy floating villages and river commerce of My Tho, and ends at a local home for a traditional Vietnamese lunch.

If you choose to pursue the afternoon ride, we’ll cycle along towards Cai Be: another town built on a mix of land and water. This village is full of friendly children, so be prepared to stop and smile or wave at kids biking to school in their blue and whites. Our ship anchors near Cai Be so we can enjoy a flavorful Vietnamese meal in town.

Day 4Cruise & Cycle to Cao Lanh

Riding: 35-65km cycling

Meal: BLD

Again today you have the option to choose whether or not to ride in the morning, afternoon, or both. The morning cycling route takes us along the riverbanks from Cai Be to the pleasant colonial town of Sa Dec, where we’ll devour lunch before boarding the ship again.

Should you choose the afternoon ride, you’ll saddle up on your bike and pedal through narrow, shaded paths past locals hard at work weaving mats, building boats, and transporting a wide variety of colorful fruits and veggies to the market. Our ride ends near the busy city of Cao Lanh, then we board the boat again to stop near the Chau Doc canal for the night.

Day 5Bike & Boat into Cambodia

Riding: 30km cycling

Meal: BLD

This morning’s ride weaves us around the top of the canal for our last glimpse of the Vietnamese part of the Mekong Delta. Then it’s all aboard at 11, and we’ll cross into Cambodia just a few hours later. Once typical border formalities have been carried out, we can enjoy a sail around Phnom Penh for sunset, where we’ll anchor near the city’s Silk Island.

Day 6Silk Island Ride

Riding: 20-40km cycling

Meal: BLD

Koh Dac, also known as Silk Island, is a small island close to Phnom Penh that is well-known as the home of silk weaving. Local women practice this traditional activity on looms under their raised houses, and we’ll have a chance to learn about the process of how silk is made as we cycle around this piece of land. We’ll head back to the boat for lunch and have the opportunity to discover more of the Mekong riverside with a ride along its banks in the afternoon.

Day 7Phnom Penh Exploration

Meal: BLD

As the sun rises to its post in the sky, our ship will arrive at Phnom Penh. The capital of Cambodia is an interesting place. Little more than a collection of shacks along the river when the French arrived, it was quickly designed with a grid-style layout and lined with beautiful colonial buildings such as the Central Market which has recently been restored.

The city was forcibly evacuated when it fell to the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s and thus ensued a period of decay that continued through the early years of re-population. In the late nineties and early 2000s as the country started to get back on its feet, the city had a shattered charm to it with many still-vacant buildings and creaking infrastructure.

We’ll have the chance to discover more of this dynamic city with a walking tour in the late morning alongside the non-riders, followed by lunch in the city. Once we’ve had our fill, it’s off to the airport for our flight to Siem Reap.

Day 8Angkor Sunrise Experience

Riding: 25km cycling

Meal: BLD

Prepare for an early rising this morning, as we get moving before the sun has peeked out from behind the horizon and the first roosters have started to crow. We’ll transfer to the otherworldly Angkor National Park, where all tour participants will gather in front of the many imposing towers of the main temple itself. If we get lucky with the weather, we’ll catch a spectacular color show as the sun rises behind the great temple’s spires.

Once the sun is up and the crowds of tourists have dispersed, we will begin our in-depth exploration of this and other ancient temples in the Angkor complex and enjoy breakfast in these peaceful surroundings. Discover the mysteries this jungle has to offer as we cycle down narrow tracks and hidden dirt paths to iconic temples such as Bayon or Ta Prohm, and some of the lesser-known ancient structures. Non-riders will explore the temples by tuk-tuk.

We’ll enjoy lunch by the Sra Srang Reservoir that surrounds the Angkor Wat temple before we head back to the hotel. The afternoon is free to pursue your own wanderings in town or relax back at the accommodation.

After an early dinner, we’ll head to an enthralling show put on by Phare Circus: the acrobatic troupe comprised of talented Khmer who have attended a professional arts training center run by an NGO.

Day 9Tour Concludes

Meal: B

Our tour concludes this morning in Siem Reap with a few last activities to immerse you fully in Cambodian culture. We’ll start with a visit to the Angkor National Museum, dedicated to the preservation of ancient Angkorian architecture and artifacts, then make our way to the APOPO NGO that uses rats to detect landmines, then finish our morning with some of the best coffee in town at Footprint cafe. You will be transferred to the airport in time for departing flights, or feel free to stay and explore this charming little city on your own.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Grasshopper Adventures’ choice of vessel is the small and intimate Toum Tiou 1, beautifully crafted with only ten cabins. The Toum Tiou and her sister ship Toum Tiou 2 are the only cruise vessels on the Mekong which manage, due to their size and shallow draft, to reach the center of Saigon city rather than the ports two hours out of town.
The shallow draft allows us to access remote villages and river arms. The ship is elegant and comfortable, without being stiff or formal. Style and decoration blend with Cambodian and Vietnamese culture.
The Toum Tiou is under private charter to Grasshopper Adventures with our own Grasshopper tour director.

Top quality, well maintained Cannondale CX3 mountain bikes in a full range of sizes are included in your tour, fitted with hybrid tires for touring. Handlebar bags for your personal possessions and a comfortable saddle are also provided, with a women's specific version available.

Walking Tours

On this tour, we are welcoming non-cycling partners as there will be plenty of exciting tours for you to do. Visit local village and produce markets, meet with Artisans and stop to explore a few historically important locations. These activities will be available to you each morning while the riders are out on the road. Groups will reunite aboard the Toum Tiou for lunch and will spend the hot afternoons relaxing and cruising up the river together.

Comfy Beds

The accommodation we use in Siem Reap is a top-rated luxury property, which offers incredible service, first-class amenities and a unique personal charm that sets it apart from the many characterless hotels that abound in Siem Reap.
Aboard the boat, you can recharge for another adventurous day in your wood-finished twin or double bed cabin, each fitted with private ensuite, air conditioning and large windows that allow for good views and plenty of natural light. The large vessel contains just ten cabins, specifically designed to give guests the feeling of being on a personalized yacht, not a bland hotel room or mass cruise.

E-Bikes

Simple to use and a pleasure to ride, the Trek Conduit+ pedal-assist bike expands touring possibilities for all riders, and anything that enables people to explore more of the world by bike is a great thing in our books! Find out more about our E-Bikes here.

Always striving to deliver a premium tour experience, Grasshopper Adventures are the first (and currently only) to offer pedal-assist e-bikes as a tour option in our select Southeast Asian destinations. An upgrade can be purchased for this trip, availability is limited and on a first-in basis. Please select the e-bike option when making your online booking our support team will follow-up regarding availability.

Your Hosts

Experienced English speaking, local leaders will host you on this trip who are well spoken, very knowledgeable, and charming. Our leaders are often cited as being the main highlight of the tour. We use local guides who have a passion for their countries and are always well informed on topics ranging from history, politics, cuisine and importantly local customs and cultures. Our leaders will take pride in introducing you to every aspect of their country and will help you to connect with the villagers you meet along the way. They will also keep your safety and comfort top priorities at all times.

More Support

A bike mechanic will join the group. While not masters of linguistics, our technical team always make an effort to form a bond with the group and provide not just mechanical support, but additional encouragement to those who may find themselves at the back of the group. Our drivers support the group by ensuring that the freshest fruit and tastiest snacks are picked up along the way.

Support Van

An air-conditioned backup support vehicle is always available for tired riders and to carry your luggage. In the Mekong Delta, we are on narrow bike and pedestrian style paths and trails where the support vehicle cannot follow. It will, however, meet us at intervals of 10km or so and can meet us at closer intervals if there is an urgent need.

Great Eats

This is as much a food adventure as it is a bike one. While Cambodian cuisine may not be as famous as Vietnamese, it offers some subtle, understated flavors. There is a strong emphasis on fish and fresh vegetables in the traditional diet, but contemporary Cambodian cuisine offers a wide range of options and surely has something for everyone. Vietnamese food is now known around the world, but what may not be so well known is that there is a great deal of variety within the national menu. In the southern area where we will be, a lot of seafood is available and also freshwater fish. In reality, though, the Delta produces such a mind-boggling amount of food that the range of choice may endanger any hopes you had of losing weight on this bike tour. Our guides are experts at introducing you to the finest food on both sides of the border. Included meals are listed in the day by day itinerary, and drinking water is always included with meals. Any soft or alcoholic drinks are not included and will be at your own expense.

Snacking

Energy bars and local snacks are provided to keep your energy levels up for the riding, and clean water and electrolyte drinks are always available to keep you well hydrated.

Bonus Gifts

A beautiful souvenir cycling jersey is yours to wear and take home. We also provide a custom drink bottle as an extra memento.

8 to 20

This tour is guaranteed for a minimum of 8 travelers. And we limit the group size to only 20 travelers so that you get all the attention you want in an intimate group.

Singles

There is no surcharge for single travelers - we will match you with another same-sex single traveler. If you want a single room there is an optional upgrade that you can book.

Your Impact

Travel by any means results in some impact to the countries, communities and environments we travel. On this tour, we aim to make a positive impact through our Book Donation Program and we seek to minimize our environmental impact through running our Cambodian support vehicles on 100% Biodiesel from Naga Biofuels. This is not a crop-based product, the fuel is made entirely from recycled cooking oil.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Toum Tiou II

The ship is elegant and comfortable, without being stiff or formal. Style and decoration blend with Cambodian and Vietnamese culture.
The Toum Tiou is under private charter to Grasshopper Adventures with our own Grasshopper tour director.

PRIVACY POLICY

GUEST REVIEWS

A great way to experience the people, sights and tastes of the area.
The group (a mix of those who knew each other before the tour and those who didn't) happened to work exceptionally well - a reflection both of the individual participants and tour leaders/support staff. Grasshopper's support for the Children of Cambodia Foundation and other local charitable organisations is another real reflection of it as a caring organisation and one with with integrity.
Excellent guides who knew their stuff and were able to adjust itineraries etc when required with little fuss. Meals both on the boat and on-land were excellent - dietary limitations were well handled. The support of locals by patronising local businesses (incl meals and the general itinerary) is a real bonus.

-Russ & Julie

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is it possible to enter Cambodia with an E-Visa on an upstream cruise Saigon-Phnom Penh?

At this time the E-Visa does not support the water border crossing. You can exit Cambodia on an E-Visa but you cannot enter at this water border. Most nationalities can get the visa on arrival during the cruise at USD 35.- per person (plus bring one passport photo). Frequently Asked Questions about Cambodian Visas.

2. Do you organize the visas for Cambodia?

No, each participant is responsible for their own travel documents and arranging visas.

3. Is the pass to the Angkor Archaeological Park included in the tour fee?

Yes, it is.

4. What time is the sunrise at Angkor Wat?

The sunrise varies according to the season. To find the time of the next sunrise at Angkor Wat click thislink.

5. What is the bedding configuration on the ship Toum Tiou 1?

All 10 outside cabins have twin beds which can be moved together to build a double. Please let us know your preferences at the time of booking.

6. Is there wifi on board?

There is free wifi in the public area of the ship. Please note that reception can be weak or non-existent depending on the area we are cruising.

7. Will I see my non-cycling partner only during the evening?

We crafted the itinerary in a way so we can all meet for breakfast, lunch and leisurely evening with dinner.

8. What is the luggage allowance on the domestic flight Phnom Penh - Siem Reap?

12. What is the cycling in the Mekong Delta like?

WHAT MAKES US STAND OUT

GRASSHOPPER STYLE

We have specially formulated this tour to involve both cyclists and their non-riding partners or friends as you take on Cambodia and Vietnam by boat and bike or foot. You’ll have the chance to visit the must-sees like Saigon, the floating villages of My Tho, and the temples of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, while also accessing places only the boat allows you to see. Discover the best Cambodia and Vietnam have to offer with this leisurely exploration of the Mekong Delta Region.

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